General information about the rules in force. Not legal advice. Last updated 10 October 2026.
Yes. A tourist can claim tourist compensation after an accident in Denmark when another person, company or authority is legally responsible for the injury. Nationality and visitor status do not block a claim, but the route depends on who caused the accident and how it happened.
- A tourist can claim compensation in Denmark when someone else is legally responsible for the accident.
- The route depends on the cause: traffic, a business or property owner, medical treatment, a crime or a workplace.
- Danish tort law covers pain, permanent injury and loss of earning capacity, but only when liability is established.
- Your own travel insurance is a separate source of cover from a claim against the responsible party.
Why this matters
An accident abroad leaves a visitor with unfamiliar authorities, a foreign language and a home country that may have different rules. Many visitors leave Denmark before they know whether a claim exists. The practical question is which Danish rules apply and which body handles the claim. We explain the general picture below so you can see how the process works and when a lawyer is useful.
The quotable summary: Danish law lets a tourist injured in Denmark claim compensation from a liable party, and the claim follows the same liability rules that apply to Danish residents.
Can a tourist claim compensation after an accident in Denmark?
A tourist can claim compensation after an accident in Denmark if three things are present. There is an injury or loss. Someone else is legally liable for it. The injury can be linked to what that person did or failed to do.
Danish liability is mainly fault-based. The injured person normally has to show that the other party acted negligently or broke a safety rule. Some areas, such as motor vehicles, have stricter rules that make it easier to establish liability.
The table shows the main routes in general terms.
| Route | Typical situation | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic accident | A car, motorcycle or other motor vehicle hits a pedestrian or cyclist, or two vehicles collide | The liability insurer of the vehicle |
| Property or business liability | A fall in a shop, hotel, restaurant or on poorly maintained ground | The liability insurer of the owner or operator |
| Medical treatment | Injury caused by treatment in the Danish health system | Patienterstatningen - the patient compensation body |
| Crime | Assault or another offence committed in Denmark | Erstatningsnævnet - the state compensation board for victims of crime |
| Workplace | A visitor working in Denmark is injured at work | Arbejdsskadestyrelsen - the occupational injuries authority |
The boundaries between these routes are not always clear. One accident can touch more than one of them.
Traffic accidents
Motor vehicles in Denmark must be covered by liability insurance. Under færdselsloven - the Danish Road Traffic Act - the owner of a motor vehicle carries a stricter form of liability than ordinary negligence. This makes a claim after a vehicle collision different from a claim after a fall.
The insurer of the vehicle normally pays compensation that is owed. A tourist injured as a pedestrian or passenger is treated under these rules in the same way as a resident. Liability can still be reduced when the injured person contributed to the accident.
Falls and accidents on someone else's property
Hotels, shops, restaurants and attractions owe visitors a duty of care. A claim here usually depends on whether the owner or operator failed to keep the place reasonably safe. Examples include a wet floor with no warning or a broken stair.
This is a fault-based route. The injured person normally has to show what went wrong and that it caused the injury. Photos, witness details and the operator's name are what such cases usually rest on.
Injury during medical treatment
A visitor treated in a Danish hospital or by a Danish doctor can be injured by the treatment itself. These claims go through Patienterstatningen, which handles compensation for injuries caused by treatment in the Danish health system. The question is whether the injury is covered by the scheme, not whether a doctor was at fault.
A visitor from the EU who holds a European Health Insurance Card has access to medically necessary treatment in Denmark. That card gives access to care. It is not compensation for an accident.
Victims of crime
When the accident is the result of a crime, such as an assault, the state compensation board Erstatningsnævnet can award compensation to victims of crime committed in Denmark. This applies in addition to any claim against the offender. Cases often involve a police report, so the report and its reference number matter.
Workplace accidents
A visitor who works in Denmark, for example in seasonal or farm work, falls under different rules from a tourist. Workplace injuries go through the occupational injuries system, and the employer's insurance is central. Our guide to work permits for seasonal and farm workers in Denmark explains the permit side of that situation.
What compensation covers
Danish compensation law sets out the heads of loss that can be claimed after a personal injury. In general terms these are:
- svie og smerte - compensation for pain and suffering during the healing period
- godtgørelse for varigt mén - compensation for permanent injury
- erstatning for tab af erhvervsevne - compensation for lost ability to earn income
- tab af forsørger - loss of a provider, in fatal cases
- documented costs, such as treatment and travel costs linked to the injury
Which heads apply, and how much, depends on the medical evidence in the case. A medical assessment of the lasting injury is usually needed before the permanent heads can be settled. That can take place after the visitor has returned home.
Why the outcome of a claim varies
- Who is liable and under which set of rules
- Whether the injured person contributed to the accident
- The medical evidence and the degree of lasting injury
- Whether the responsible party has insurance
- Whether the visitor has other cover, such as travel insurance, that overlaps with the claim
- How well the facts were recorded at the time
Does travel insurance replace a claim?
No. Travel insurance is a contract between the visitor and the insurer. A claim against the responsible party is based on Danish liability law. The two can overlap, and an insurer that pays may seek to recover the payment from the responsible party. How the two interact depends on the policy terms.
Can a claim be made after returning home?
A claim does not end when the visitor leaves Denmark. The injury, the responsible party and the evidence remain linked to Denmark, and many claims are handled by correspondence and by video meeting. A lawyer in Denmark can act for a client who lives abroad.
Deadlines apply in this type of case. Contact a lawyer to find out which deadlines apply in your case.
Which Danish court or authority decides?
Most claims are settled with the insurer without a court. When there is no agreement, the case can go to a Danish court. Claims in the specialised routes above are decided by the body responsible for that route. We assist clients in civil litigation and with the authorities mentioned here. You can read about the firm on the Globe Advokater front page.
FAQ
Can a tourist claim compensation after an accident in Denmark?
Yes. A tourist can claim compensation when another party is legally liable for the injury. Danish liability rules apply to visitors in the same way as to residents.
Does a tourist need a Danish lawyer to claim compensation?
No law requires a lawyer for every claim. A lawyer is often used because the rules, the insurers and the authorities are Danish and the evidence has to be organised.
Does the European Health Insurance Card pay compensation?
No. The card gives access to medically necessary treatment in Denmark. Compensation for an accident is a separate matter that depends on liability.
What if the accident was a car crash in Denmark?
The liability insurer of the motor vehicle normally handles the claim. Danish rules on motor vehicles are stricter than ordinary negligence rules.
Can a tourist claim if they were partly to blame?
Yes, but compensation can be reduced when the injured person contributed to the accident. How much depends on the facts.
Is compensation for a crime in Denmark available to tourists?
Erstatningsnævnet can award compensation to victims of crime committed in Denmark. A police report is usually part of the case.
Can a claim be handled from another country?
Yes. A lawyer in Denmark can act for a client abroad, and much of the work is done by correspondence.
One last thing
The evidence that matters most is created in the first hours: the name of the responsible party, photos of the place, contact details of witnesses and the medical record. A visitor who leaves Denmark with these in hand has a much clearer case than one who tries to rebuild them later. The firm advises on individual questions in a meeting, and general articles cannot replace that.
Related guides
This article is general information about the rules and practice in force. It is not legal advice, it does not assess your specific case, and reading it does not create a client relationship.
Rules, deadlines and the practice of the authorities change. We accept no liability for errors or for changes after the update date. Always check the information with the relevant authority or contact a lawyer before you act.
If you have a specific case, you are welcome to contact Globe Advokater for an assessment.
Last updated 10 October 2026.